Let me start off by saying that we’re pretty darn lucky to have quality museums for FREE right in our own backyard. Located right off the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu is the gorgeous Getty Villa museum. After being on our both of our LA Bucket Lists for quite some time, one of my best friends Liz and I ventured here over this past Labor Day weekend. Some background info for you: The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa opened to the public in 2006. I’m sure you’ve heard of The Getty, right? Basically, the Getty Villa is like a little sister to the Getty Museum in LA. This Malibu gem is home to 23 galleries total, showcasing arts and cultures of ancient Greece and Rome dating from 6,500 B.C. to A.D. 400. That’s a very, very long time ago, so you can only image how awesome it can be to see all of the art, jewelry, pottery and statues on display from these ancient time periods. The Getty Villa is a great place to get a healthy dose of art history without being too overwhelmed with information.

As if the collections and exhibits inside aren’t beautiful enough, wandering around the grounds of the Getty Villa is a lovely experience. The Villa is a re-creation of an ancient Roman style house and it has a very Mediterranean feel to it. As you cover the grounds you will see gorgeous gardens and fountains, intricately designed pillars and ceilings, and some really beautiful tiles both inside and outside. I’d like to note, though, that the fountains are currently waterless. In an effort to save water during California's well-known and serious drought, the Getty has turned off all the water features…something I can totally get on board with and support!

If you want to dig deeper into the art and culture at the Getty Villa, there is a wide variety of talks and tours provided for free throughout the day. Tours range from showcasing the unique architecture, to the impressive gardens that host over 300 types of plants, to the current art exhibits and installations. If this is something that interests you, click HERE for the various tour options and times. If you’re more of an “explore it yourself” type of person, knock yourself out! There’s plenty to see on your own and you can see as little or as much of the museum you’d like. Click HERE for more information on the current exhibitions and installations. Overall, I really liked the Getty Villa because it was a nice museum day without it being too overwhelming or feeling too touristy.

The Getty Villa is closed only on Tuesdays and is open Wednesday–Monday from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. It's free to visit but you must reserve your arrival time in advance by clicking HERE. The only thing you’ll need to pay for is parking, which is $15 per car. Bring a few friends along for the adventure and you can split the cost! Getty Villa is located at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.

EXPLORE YOUR HEART OUT

L.A. is an amazing and diverse city full of culture, history, art, nature, museums, and attractions - which results in countless things to do & see - no matter your budget. Time after time I find that when you seek new adventure, you will find it!